CVE-2008-6607 in MatPo Link
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in view.php in MatPo Link 1.2 Beta allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the thema parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
The CVE-2008-6607 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the MatPo Link 1.2 Beta web application, specifically affecting the view.php script. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input through the 'thema' parameter, creating an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content directly into the application's output. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental failure in input validation and output encoding practices that are essential for preventing XSS attacks in web applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's insecure direct object reference pattern combined with inadequate sanitization of user-provided parameters. When the 'thema' parameter is processed by view.php, the application fails to properly escape or validate the input before incorporating it into the HTML response sent to the victim's browser. This creates an environment where an attacker can craft malicious payloads that execute within the context of other users' sessions, leveraging the trust relationship between the web application and its users. The vulnerability specifically aligns with CWE-79, which describes improper neutralization of input during web output, and represents a Type 1 XSS variant where the malicious script is stored on the server and executed when other users view the affected page.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, deface web pages, steal sensitive user data, and potentially escalate privileges within the application's context. Remote attackers can exploit this flaw without requiring any authentication or prior access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that handle user-generated content or maintain user sessions. The vulnerability affects all users of the MatPo Link 1.2 Beta application who interact with pages that utilize the vulnerable view.php script, potentially compromising the integrity of the entire web application and its user base. This type of vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under the T1566 category, specifically targeting the 'Phishing' tactic through the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-6607 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. The most effective remediation involves implementing strict input validation that filters or rejects suspicious characters and patterns commonly associated with XSS attacks, combined with comprehensive output encoding that ensures any user-supplied content is properly escaped before being rendered in HTML contexts. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to provide additional protection against script execution, and establish secure coding practices that prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in future development cycles. Regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual code review processes should be implemented to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of input sanitization and output encoding in preventing web application attacks, with implications that extend to modern web development practices and security standards such as those defined by OWASP and NIST.